Justice Department Clears Itself on Black Panthers Outrage

Having looked into its appalling dismissal of the open and shut case of voter intimidation against New Black Panther activists, the Justice Department has cleared itself of any wrongdoing. Despite appearances, the situation has nothing to do with the DOJ’s policy of never prosecuting civil rights cases if the defendant is Caucasian.

The Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has concluded an investigation finding that politics played no role in the handling of the New Black Panther Party case, which sparked a racially charged political fight.

Yet strangely enough some people aren’t satisfied.

In a statement, [Rep. Lamar] Smith [R-TX], who chairs the House Judiciary Committee and is expected to hold hearings on whether the department is politicized, said the review — which was limited to the actions of attorneys in the case — “did not address the Civil Rights Division’s misguided policy of using racial considerations when determining whether to enforce voting rights laws. The Division should protect the voting rights of all Americans, regardless of race, gender, religion or political affiliation.”

by Sir John Hawkins

John Hawkins's book 101 Things All Young Adults Should Know is filled with lessons that newly minted adults need in order to get the most out of life. Gleaned from a lifetime of trial, error, and writing it down, Hawkins provides advice everyone can benefit from in short, digestible chapters.